What does it feel like to fly a B-2 bomber? The pilot recounts: relying on beef jerky and stimulants to complete a 44-hour extreme expedition, the hardest part is fighting.

After the Midnight Hammer attack on Iran's nuclear facilities by U.S. B-2 bombers last week, BusinessInsider gave us more details on the B-2's long-haul bombing mission. (Synopsis: Hit again? Israel accused Iran of launching missiles "in violation of ceasefire agreement" but Tehran denied attack, who lied) (Background supplement: Israeli hackers attack Iranian exchange Nobitx, $83 million stolen "beautiful address" exposes political intent) The U.S. Department of Defense dispatched seven B-2 Ghost bombers over the weekend on a bombing mission codenamed the Midnight Hammer, dealing a major blow to Iran's three nuclear infrastructures. The operation, which lasted approximately 37 hours, underscored the strategic ability of the United States to conduct long-range precision strikes around the world. And Business Insider reported yesterday that we can lose more details on the long-haul bombing mission of one of the most expensive military aircraft in U.S. history, the B-2. Echoes of History: 44 Hours of Extreme Flight in Afghanistan's First Battle According to reports, the record for the longest flight of a B-2 bomber is held by retired U.S. Air Force pilots Melvin Deaile and Brian Neal. In October 2001, after the 9/11 terrorist attacks that shocked the world, they flew B-2 bombers on one of the first bombing missions to Afghanistan, setting a staggering 44-hour flight record. They described first-hand how they stayed awake and precise during the stressful in-flight refueling process, supported by only a few hours of sleep and a little beef jerky. According to Neal, at the time of 9/11, they were conducting their annual nuclear capability training exercises. Initially, faced with confusing reports of the hijacking, he thought it was just part of the exercise. But soon, the harsh reality surfaced, and his unit immediately began planning mission options for the Washington Bush administration's top brass eager to respond by force. Dill said he and Neil were among the first B-2 crew members to travel to Afghanistan that week. Although they were fairly familiar with the B-2 bomber, in order to protect such expensive aircraft and reduce maintenance problems, they usually flew only a few times a month. Most of the time, they train on the T-38 trainer, a lower-cost option that preserves flying skills. Although they occasionally flew B-2s for long-haul flight practice across the continental United States, they had never flown such a long mission in combat until the early hours of that morning in early October 2001. That day, they took off from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, where all B-2 bombers were stationed, and headed west to Afghanistan. The "mobile fortress" at an altitude of 10,000 feet: the reality in the cockpit of the B-2 Neil laughs and recalls the improvised sleeping arrangements in the cabin at that time. Before they took off for the mission, the ground crew, who was responsible for equipping the pilots with the appropriate equipment for the mission, thoughtfully purchased a camp bed in the rear of the bomber, just enough to lie down on a person. "When the gangway is retracted and you enter the cockpit, there's a flat space on the floor that's about 6 feet or so." Neil describes the sleeper in the $2 billion stealth fighter: "During those two days, I slept about five hours in the camp bed in that small space." For a flight of up to 44 hours, 5 hours of sleep is clearly not enough. Neil mentioned that flight surgeons often give pilots stimulants commonly known as "pick-up pills" to help stay awake. He chose not to take it, but Deere did. Neil recalls that he was young and doing what he was trained to do, so he would be a little excited and have a lot of adrenaline. The two of them took turns trying to take a nap, but the tension before the mission prevented them from really resting. In addition, since they were flying west to Afghanistan, the sun hung in the sky almost all day. "When the sun shines directly into your eyes, you don't want to sleep at all." Neil said. When it comes to the flight characteristics of the B-2, Neil has flown fighters such as the F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-22 Raptor during his career. Compared to these fighters, he explained, flying a bomber like the B-2 feels like suddenly switching to driving a semi-trailer truck after getting used to a sports car. When the B-2 flies smoothly in the air, only one pilot needs to remain alert and the other can rest. However, during critical operational phases such as landing, takeoff, bomb dropping, and aerial refueling, two crew members are required to work together. Air Lifeline: Difficult Aerial Refueling Operations Air refueling is a necessary part of the B-2's long-haul missions, especially when carrying heavy ammunition payloads. Refueling crews must be specifically certified to refuel different aircraft models, including the B-2, for the unique flight characteristics of each platform. This nerve-wracking operation, which typically lasts about 30 minutes at a time, is a severe test for bomber pilots and refueling crews. Deere explained that the surface of an aircraft is critical to its low detectability, and even tiny scratches accidentally caused by refueling rods can affect its stealth performance. "It's a very delicate process." Referring to the refueling process, he added that during that two-day mission, he and Neil received a total of seven aerial refueling sessions from different tankers. Neal estimates that they need about 750,000 pounds of JP-8 jet fuel in total. Since most of the flight time is over the ocean, their goal is to fill up as much fuel as possible. "It's like refueling at a gas station moving hundreds of miles per hour." Neal described the tension of aerial refueling as a highly stressful "physical exercise", especially since the B-2 was designed to create lift during refueling, strangely pushing the tanker away, adding to the complexity of the operation. Unexpected Records: Mission Extensions and Logistical Trials Due to the need for aerial refueling and a temporary order from headquarters, Neil and Deere eventually set the record for the longest flight of a B-2 bomber. As they dropped a dozen bombs and prepared to leave Afghan airspace for a breather, the command unexpectedly sent an order to return to Afghanistan and drop the remaining four bombs on board. By this point in the mission, both pilots had eaten very little and preferred to focus on drinking water because flying at high altitude didn't burn too many calories. Neil recalled that the cooler in the back of the cockpit was full of snacks, presumably beef jerky and grapes, and maybe sandwiches. Finally, after dropping the last bombs, the pilots turned south to the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia, which houses a small air base. Knowing in advance that the mission would end on the island, Neil also deliberately brought with him a piece of equipment not common on B-2 bombers, his fishing rod. Veteran's perspective: Iran's actions are stunning As for Operation Midnight Hammer last weekend, U.S. Air Force public affairs officials responded to Business Insider emails, declining to say whether the same B-2 bomber was involved in the mission against Iran, citing operational safety. However, looking back at the recent B-2 bombers deep into Iran to carry out their duties...